For the week of May 12, 2008

HAUSA OF WEST AFRICA (HOW-suh). In recent months, Hausa Team members have asked you to pray for them as they have contacted local pastors and churches to challenge them to pray for and join them in ministry to the Hausa people. The Hausa Team writes: “We praise God for the encouraging responses we have received. Recently one of the pastors came to us and said that he felt God was specifically calling him to be the liaison to the pastors and churches in our urban area, to challenge them to pray for the Hausa and become involved in ministering to them. Long-standing Christian-Muslim conflict has resulted in fear and negative attitudes that hinder many from getting involved in such an outreach. Pray for wisdom and direction as Rev. T pursues this responsibility and coordinates the involvement of the churches that commit to join us. Pray that as pastors and churches respond, God will clearly show how we can best work together in reaching the Hausa in our area.”

RURAL MESTIZOS OF DURANGO, MEXICO (mes-TEE-sohs). Acts Alive Team members were saddened to learn of the death of a great pastor and leader in a small town in Durango. As they came to the aid of this struggling church, they expected to find it falling apart. How uplifted they were to see that the church was not ready to close its doors! In spite of their no longer having a pastor, they have made a firm commitment to grow and intentionally evangelize their town for Christ. Praise the Lord for these servants of God and their vision. Intercede for them to be bold witnesses for the kingdom. http://www.actsaliveteam.org/

JAPAN. “Thank the Lord for the new personnel who feel called to come to Japan to work in the rural areas,” writes the JCTV Strategy Group. “We thank Him for each one who has responded to His call, yet there are still several major regional urban centers where we do not have personnel. Pray that God will call out laborers for the cities of Kagoshima and Kitakyushu on the south island of Kyushu, for the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido, as well as for two cities, Maebashi and Koriyama, which are located in the north-central area of Japan. Also, there are still many small cities, towns and villages across Japan that have no church and no Christian witness, which means no opportunity for those people to hear the gospel. Please pray fervently for God to call out laborers to go to those places to take the gospel to those who have not yet heard.” http://www.jgpnetwork.org/